Chapter 9 - From genes to proteins

Today we discussed the way in which genetic information is coded in DNA.  We introduced the genetic code, some of its properties and some of its implications.

Then we moved on to talk about the transcription process.  We mentioned its steps (initiation, elongation, and termination), and the processing that a mRNA molecule must undergo before being exported to the nucleus (5' capping, polyadenylation, intron splicing).

As an introduction to the process of translation, we explained what amino acids are and how they are linked into polypeptides.  On Wednesday we will talk about other cytoplasmic components important for
translation, and about the translation process itself.

-----------------------